Written questions by Stone.

If he will provide support through a winter fuel allowance for people in caravans, chalets and mobile homes.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to provide advice to local authorities on local event management.

Awaiting answer.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying the summer savings scheme to the Christmas holidays.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, if he will require local authorities processing Section 3F from the Town and Country Planning Act to inform the police in time to avoid local advertising being prosecuted by enforcement officers.

Awaiting answer.

Whether an ETA is required to go on holiday whilst on a 90 day work visa.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, if she will take steps to assess whether gambling companies are able to advertisements on streaming platforms during the day.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Conversion practices draft bill, published on 25 June 2026, if she will make the definition of healthcare services more narrow.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, whether under-16s will be able to access political content on social media.

Awaiting answer.

Whether Red Diesel for the purpose running fairs and circuses is included in the off-road operation tax freeze.

On 20 May, the Government announced support for households and businesses with their fuel costs, in response to the conflict in the Middle East. This included targeted support for users of red diesel and rebated biodiesel, where the duty rate for these fu...

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the performance of management companies.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 85213 on 4 November 2025 and UIN 113165 on 2 March 2026.

What his department is doing to improve access to diagnosis of Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome.

The Government recognises that women suffering with gynaecological conditions, including polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) previously referred to as polycystic ovary syndrome, have been failed for too long, and we acknowledge the impact it h...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the level of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Since the ceasefire, aid flows have increased and more crossings are partially reopened, but the level of need cannot be met unless more restrictions are lifted.Medical equipment, components for field hospitals and basic shelter items must be allowed to enter to alleviate suffering.We continue to raise with Israel, the US and regional partners the immediate requirement to lift restrictions on aid.

Whether the Statement of Expectations relating to student housing will include specific measures to ensure independent students can access housing for twelve months whilst at university; and whether enforcement mechanisms will be in place.

This government recognises that independent students, including care leavers, care experienced students and estranged students, may require additional support to access higher education (HE), including access to student accommodation.As universities and landlords are autonomous, the department has no remit to intervene in the provision of student residential accommodation. Nevertheless, the forthcoming Statement of Expectations for the HE sector will urge HE providers to plan strategically for the supply of sufficient suitable accommodation for their students and include guidance on how providers can support the needs of vulnerable students.

Whether she has considered (a) the reintroduction of maintenance grants for independent students and (b) removing the priority course requirement for this group of students.

The department recognises that independent students, including care leavers, care experienced and estranged students, may require additional support to access and achieve in higher education (HE).The new targeted, means-tested maintenance grants of up to £1,000 per year will help support students study subjects that support the government’s mission and Industrial Strategy. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maintenance-grants-for-higher-education-students/maintenance-grant-amounts-and-eligibility-criteria.Care leavers aged under 25 will continue to receive a non-repayable £2,000 bursary for HE, and from the 2026/27 academic year all care leavers will receive the maximum loan for living costs. This support is irrespective of subject studied.In addition, most independent students who are single will qualify for the maximum loan, and where applicable, the maximum long courses loan available to them for their full time courses. Maximum loans for living costs for undergraduate students will increase by 2.71% for the 2026/27 academic year.

Whether her department has considered proposals to introduce an extended maintenance loan, aligned with the Long courses Loan, for independent students to support with 52-week living costs.

The department recognises that independent students, including care leavers, care experienced and estranged students, may require additional support to access and achieve in higher education (HE).The new targeted, means-tested maintenance grants of up to £1,000 per year will help support students study subjects that support the government’s mission and Industrial Strategy. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maintenance-grants-for-higher-education-students/maintenance-grant-amounts-and-eligibility-criteria.Care leavers aged under 25 will continue to receive a non-repayable £2,000 bursary for HE, and from the 2026/27 academic year all care leavers will receive the maximum loan for living costs. This support is irrespective of subject studied.In addition, most independent students who are single will qualify for the maximum loan, and where applicable, the maximum long courses loan available to them for their full time courses. Maximum loans for living costs for undergraduate students will increase by 2.71% for the 2026/27 academic year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the (a) levels of welfare of hounds used in hunting activities and (b) adequacy of the arrangements for their care or rehoming when no longer required.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. Anyone who does not provide for their animals’ welfare may be banned from owning animals. They may also face an unlimited fine, be sent to prison, or both. The 2006 Act is backed up by the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs which provides owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their dogs, as required by the 2006 Act. As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations.

What steps he is taking to improve the Service Justice System.

The Ministry of Defence is taking forward a comprehensive programme of reforms to strengthen and modernise the Service Justice System. As a result, investigations, prosecutions and victim support have all significantly improved in recent years. We want to build on the progress made and this is why the Armed Forces Bill strengthens how the Service Justice System tackles violence against women and girls, enhances support and rights for victims in the Service Justice System and, modernises investigation, charging and discipline procedures in the Service Justice System. The Defence Serious Crime Command, launched in December 2022, operates independently of the Chain of Command, ensuring impartial investigations into serious offences committed in the UK and overseas. It is implementing the National Operating Model under Operation SOTERIA, in line with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing guidance. This ensures that investigations into rape and serious sexual offences are victim-centred, suspect-focused and consistent with nationally recognised policing standards. The Victim Witness Care Unit provides independent, trauma-informed, end-to-end support to victims and witnesses through dedicated Victim Liaison Officers and operates outside of the Armed Forces’ Chain of Command. Noting the procedural differences between the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales and the Service Justice System, published administrative data drawn from the Criminal Justice System Delivery Dashboard and statistics on timeliness, victim withdrawal rates and conviction rates in adult-rape-flagged cases in the Service Justice System suggest that cases are dealt with much more quickly in the Service Justice System with a smaller proportion of victims withdrawing from proceedings. Following charge, adult-rape-flagged cases in 2024 reached an outcome in the Crown Court in 358 days with 19% of victims withdrawing from proceedings and 199 days in the Court Martial with no victims withdrawing from proceedings. Whilst conviction rates cannot be reliably compared between the two systems due to differences in case volume, procedure, victim withdrawal rates and case profile, administrative data published in CPS quarterly data summaries and the above-mentioned statistics on timeliness, victim withdrawal rates and conviction rates in adult-rape-flagged cases in the Service Justice System also cast further doubt on claims that the conviction rate in the Crown Court is higher. Excluding guilty pleas, 51% of adult-rape-flagged cases in 2022 to 2024 in the Court Martial resulted in a conviction whereas 36% resulted in a conviction in the Crown Court. In its November 2024 report regarding the Service Prosecuting Authority, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate stated that “the level of timeliness and support for victims in the Service Justice System is something we would like to see afforded to all victims in all jurisdictions.” For more information on the statistics quoted above please see:https://criminal-justice-delivery-data-dashboards.justice.gov.uk/all-metricshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/service-justice-system-data-transparency-release/statistics-on-timeliness-victim-withdrawal-rates-and-conviction-rates-in-adult-rape-flagged-cases-in-the-service-justice-systemhttps://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/performance-management-and-case-outcomes/cps-quarterly-data-summaries

Whether she plans to provide additional financial support for (a) estranged students, (b) care leavers in higher education and (c) students without living parents in the context of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 on student housing.

This government recognises that independent students including care leavers, care experienced students and estranged students may require additional support to access higher education. As announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, we will increase student loan support in line with inflation and re-introduce targeted maintenance grants. We will also provide extra support for care leavers, ensuring all are automatically eligible to receive maximum student loan support, irrespective of their household income or living circumstances. In addition, care leavers will continue to receive a £2000 non-repayable bursary, to support with their living expenses. We will work in collaboration with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and relevant external stakeholders to monitor the impacts of the Renters’ Rights Act and explore the accommodation needs of independent students studying in higher education. The department will soon be publishing a Statement of Expectations for the higher education sector, which will urge higher education providers to plan strategically for the supply of suitable accommodation for their students and include guidance on how providers can support the needs of vulnerable students.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Right Act on independent students who require accommodation between June and September.

This government recognises that independent students including care leavers, care experienced students and estranged students may require additional support to access higher education. As announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, we will increase student loan support in line with inflation and re-introduce targeted maintenance grants. We will also provide extra support for care leavers, ensuring all are automatically eligible to receive maximum student loan support, irrespective of their household income or living circumstances. In addition, care leavers will continue to receive a £2000 non-repayable bursary, to support with their living expenses. We will work in collaboration with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and relevant external stakeholders to monitor the impacts of the Renters’ Rights Act and explore the accommodation needs of independent students studying in higher education. The department will soon be publishing a Statement of Expectations for the higher education sector, which will urge higher education providers to plan strategically for the supply of suitable accommodation for their students and include guidance on how providers can support the needs of vulnerable students.

With reference his Department’s press release on 28 December 2025 regarding the signing of a £52 million contract for RCH 155, what assessment has he made of the potential benefits to UK industry from this contract.

The Early Capability Demonstrator platforms of the RCH155, two for Germany and one for the UK, will be built in Germany for joint testing.The project remains in its assessment phase and a production contract has not yet been placed.